Vote on second reading of budget today President expected to be in Parliament

December 1, 2015, 10:13 pm

By Saman Indrajith

The vote on the second reading of the budget 2016 is scheduled to be taken at 5.00 pm today. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government’s first full budget was presented to Parliament on Nov. 20 by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake with total government expenditure for the next year estimated at Rs. 1,941 bn.

The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill, presented to Parliament on Oct. 24 by Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella, commenced the following day and. Fifteen full days from Dec. 03 to Dec. 19 have been allocated for the Third Reading stage debate on the budget proposals and the final vote will be taken at 5.00 pm on Dec. 19.

President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled be present in Parliament today.

President Sirisena is expected to arrive in Parliament in the morning and remain there till the vote is taken, sources said. The President would meet the SLFP parliamentary group to seek their support for the budget vote. He is scheduled to meet several groups of MPs with Prime Minister Ranil Wickrem-esinghe.